A state investigation has cleared wildlife officials who last month lost control of a prescribed burn that may have contributed to a 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 4 in Polk County. ...more

February 6, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - A state investigation has cleared wildlife officials who last month lost control of a prescribed burn that contributed to a 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 4 in Polk County. ...more

February 5, 2008

VENUS — Brad Krohn said it is "really exciting" for his company and it is "tremendously honored" to have received a $7 million grant for a proposed sugar to ethanol biorefinery in southern Highlands County. But Krohn, president of United States EnviroFuels, knows he has to get permits in place from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Highlands County before the first gallon of ethanol is produced. The Highlands County Commission must also sign off on the plant. It typically takes eight to 12 months for permitting, but Krohn is hopeful it will get done sooner. ...more

January 27, 2008

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said a brand of cheese made in Miami may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Officials say the naturally aged white cheese made by Santa Rosa Cheese could have a type of E. coli bacteria, though not the more dangerous strain. ...more

January 17, 2008

At a time when commercial beekeepers are reeling from a little-understood disorder known as colony collapse disorder, in which, for unknown causes, colonies of bees disappear, it is being left to back-yard beekeepers like Charlie Hammond to help maintain the integrity of the hive. ...more

December 19, 2007

Florida has soured on California-grown citrus. A legal dispute has emerged between the two states over the importing of fresh citrus, and concerns of fungus-laden fruit making its way into Florida groves and markets and, eventually, into Korea. ...more

December 15, 2007

The idea of planting 1,000 trees was a speck in Garland Forbes' rearview mirror going into this year's campaign. This time the root-canal specialist gave away 4,000 seedlings, double last year's, with help from the newly enlisted New Port Richey Public Library. The first-generation longleaf pines were passed out at the library Friday. This week, Forbes and friends are distributing trees to other area dentists. This is the third year the endodontist has conducted the tree planting effort coordinated through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. ...more

December 12, 2007

In a twist on making lemonade when life supplies lemons, police on Friday gave a local food bank a truckload of citrus and other produce seized during a drug bust. ...more

December 8, 2007

TAMPA - In a twist on making lemonade when life supplies lemons, police today donated a truckload of lemons and other produce seized during a drug bust to a local food bank. ...more

December 7, 2007

A dentist's efforts to help residents go green is branching out: 4,000 seedlings - double last year's total - will be given away this week. ...more

December 2, 2007